A pen of calves that have just weaned stay close together in a separate area with plenty of hay to eat and grown on. The cattle industry is seeing an upswing in business with area ranchers replenishing their stock.
Frank Tilley
for The Victoria Advocate

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on becoming part of the Jackson County Premium Bull and Replacement Female Sale, contact Sale Coordinator Lynn Utz at 361-782-3403 or lutz@ykc.com, Jackson County AgriLife Extension Agent Mike Hiller at 361-782-3312 or mhiller@ag.tamu.edu, or Sale Manager Milton Charanza at 979-450-8588 or mcharanza@airplexus.com or go to brokentrianglecattle.com.

As Crossroads producers emerge from dry conditions, a Jackson County group is working to help ranchers rebuild.

Plans are in the works for a Premium Bull and Replacement Female Sale the Jackson County Cattle Raisers will host in February. The goal is to assist producers looking to replenish their herds post-drought, said Lynn Utz, the sale's coordinator.

"There's a huge demand and a shortage of replacement cattle out there," he said Friday. "There's not enough to go around."

The cattle raisers group planned to host its first sale in 2010 but, due to time constraints, decided instead on a trade show. Last year's drought once again pushed back plans for a sale.

The February event will include a trade day with speakers and vendor booths as well as the sale, Utz said. He encouraged those interested in consigning cattle or sponsoring the event to contact the group early on.

Goliad County Extension Agent Brian Yanta agreed that, with the drought's end, the sale comes at a good time for the Crossroads. Other sales are also in the works, he said, noting a tri-county event taking place in Beeville this April and the DeWitt County producers sale.

Such events benefit producers, he said, because they bring high-quality cattle directly to the Crossroads.

"Time is real precious and a lot of people don't have time to run up the road to look at cattle," he said.

Even when ranchers do drive up, oftentimes they aren't willing to return home with empty trailers, Yanta said, explaining they might end up purchasing animals they don't necessarily want.

"This can really be a great service," he said.

Jackson County's Texas AgriLife Extension Agent Mike Hiller said he hoped those benefits extended to the producers who consign cattle for the event.

Cattle prices are currently up, he said, noting the sale committee hopes to see the trend continue through February.

"For those who consign, I don't think they'll be disappointed," he said. My committee thinks this will be very beneficial to Jackson and the surrounding counties."